Imagine that a man who said there should be no freedom of religion for Muslims, that there should be no Mosques in America, and that America is in a religious war that pits America, a "Christian Nation," against Islam was invited to address our men and women in uniform? Well, it's happening.
On Feb 8, retired Lt. Gen. William Boykin has been invited to speak at a prayer breakfast at the Military Academy at West Point. He has said everything I wrote above. Here's a small selection:
"We need to recognize that Islam itself is not just a religion - it is a totalitarian way of life. It's a legal system, sharia law; it's a financial system; it's a moral code; it's a political system; it's a military system. It should not be protected under the First Amendment."
"No mosques in America. Islam is a totalitarian way of life; it's not just a religion."
Americans should "claim empty lots in Jesus' name," so the Muslim community cannot build Mosques there.
"There is no greater threat to America than Islam."
As a Muslim-American who served in Iraq as a Platoon Leader, I find it reprehensible that West Point would invite Lt. Gen. Boykin to speak to Cadets at a Prayer Breakfast when he openly calls for a ban on mosques in America, which are protected under the Constitution, and a host of other disturbing comments about Muslims. While I am typing this, I have a cousin who is on Active Duty in the Marines and is proud of his service. What does this say to him? What does this say to the thousands of Muslim-Americans who are serving in the United States military right now?
West Point says they will allow the Lt Gen. Boykin to speak so the Cadets can be exposed to differing views. That is beyond comprehension. Would West Point invite an individual who has denounced Christianity or Judaism the same way General Boykin has done with Islam?
It moved us, and brought the point home. Many graves of veterans and the fallen are marked with a crescent, the symbol of Islam. It is outrageous that these patriots would ever be smeared as anything antithetical to America. But that's what Lt. Gen. Boykin did, and will continue to do.
Lt. Gen. Boykin has a freedom of speech, and of course can spew whatever he wants. But, that doesn't mean that the Army has to grant him a venue to speak. In fact, they should not.
Update: It looks like cadets and faculty members at West Point are beginning to organize in protest. That's something that rarely, if ever, happens.
Update 2: Received an email release from the Forum on Military Chaplaincy protesting Boykin's appearance. It reads, in part:
"A prayer breakfast isn't an academic discussion, where controversial views can be challenged and debated," pointed out Tom Carpenter, former Marine and co-chair of the Forum. "Nor is it an appropriate place to present views, however cloaked, that disrespect those Muslims and gays who are honorably serving in the U.S. military.
"Chaplains are sworn to serve all in the military," said retired Chaplain (Colonel) Paul Dodd, co-chair of the Forum. Dodd served 31 years in the Army Chaplaincy, including a tour as Command Chaplain for the Army Medical Command.
"It sends a poisonous message to have chaplains sponsor someone so strongly associated with speech that condemns one particular religious group."
Final Update: Lt. Gen. Boykin has pulled out of the event.
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No?
Then maybe we can conclude that the offered reason to excuse inviting him is nothing more than an attempted smokescreen.
Quran with the bible:
Your knowledge of Islam appears to be limited. Christians believe that hell is "everlasting," while The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that hell is a sentence of various durations. In fact, the Qur'an states that hell will eventually be empty, so hell cannot be everlasting. Like a jail term, each person will be allowed to join those in heaven when his or her time is up.
This understanding of the concept of hell seems much more just to me than the concept of "everlasting damnation" I heard throughout my Christian upbringing.
Enlightenment brings about a lasting state of inner ease, peace and contentment irrespective of outer conditions and changes.
Christians could be more or less the same way if they were to really follow the teachings of Jesus and disregard what his followers wrote in the Bible. The difference would be quite noticeable.
The way that I see it after rereading pertinent parts of the Bible, Jesus by no means abolished the old laws of Moses. I think that this is key to leading a righteous life. Those laws certainly have a good amount of guidance. It takes some getting used to, of course, but it makes faith considerably stronger and makes solid boundaries in life between what is acceptable and what is not.
I have a feeling that some pastors are aware of this but are reluctant to teach in fear of loosing their congregations to churches who will have an easy going message of "salvation" through the blood of Jesus sort of thing. They are not doing themselves or their congregations any favors by watering down the message.
Praise for killer of 5 members of Fogel family on Palestinian Authority TV
Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cotwZxJdaeg